May 3, 2018Arlington, VA – The News Media Alliance today announced that Dr. Dietrich von Klaeden, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Axel Springer SE, has joined its Board of Directors. Axel Springer joined the News Media Alliance in December 2017 as its first-ever European-based member. Axel Springer is the leading digital publisher in Europe, publishing brands such as Bild, Welt and Politico.eu, as well as Business Insider, one of the most popular and well-respected business news websites.
Dr. Dietrich von Klaeden is a leading policy strategist, lawyer, media expert and journalist. At Axel Springer, he is responsible for the group-wide public affairs activities in Germany and internationally. He reports directly to CEO Dr. Mathias Döpfner. While pursuing his legal studies, his doctorate and his legal training, Dr. von Klaeden worked initially as a reporter, correspondent and moderator for broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk. Following the completion of his second state exam, he served as a lawyer and counsel for the Georg von Holtzbrinck publishing group, as well as press spokesman and marketing head of broadcaster Südwestrundfunk. He has worked for Axel Springer since 2007, serving in various management functions, and as Senior Vice President, Public Affairs since spring 2017.
“We are delighted to have Dr. von Klaeden on the Alliance Board of Directors,” stated Alliance President & CEO, David Chavern. “Axel Springer is a publishing pioneer, and having Dr. von Klaeden at the table will be a huge benefit to our membership. Likewise, we look forward to supporting Axel Springer and other innovative news publishers by advocating for the entire industry across the digital landscape.”
“I’m honored to be delegated as representative of Axel Springer SE to the Board of Directors of the most important US news content organization, and to work with such renowned brands as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post,” says Dr. von Klaeden. “To safeguard a fair competition with the dominant online platforms is one of the common tasks of European and American news publishers as well.”
Axel Springer SE is Europe’s leading digital publisher. With headquarters in Berlin, the company is active in more than 40 countries with subsidiaries, joint ventures, and licenses. Axel Springer SE is divided into three segments: Classifieds Media, News Media and Marketing Media. The company employs around 16,000 people worldwide. In recent years, Axel Springer has consequently invested in the digitalization of its portfolio and today is an absolute digital leader, creating and acquiring a series of digital-first products, including Business Insider and the social-first INSIDER. Axel Springer has also partnered with Politico to create Politico Europe and a Europe-focused PoliticoPRO.

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The News Media Alliance is a nonprofit organization representing more than 2,000 news organizations and their multiplatform businesses in the United States and globally. Alliance members include print, digital and mobile publishers of original news content. Headquartered near Washington, D.C., in Arlington, Va., the association focuses on ensuring the future of news media through communication, research, advocacy and innovation. Information about the News Media Alliance (formerly NAA) can be found at www.newsmediaalliance.org.